WANT TO GET TWICE AS MUCH USE OF YOUR MATS?

[mariet]

I don’t know if anyone else has tried this but I found out that if your mat is worn out, you can just turn it over and use the back to cut! It works as well as the front. It’s not sticky but if you spray it with quilters spray it will hold the paper on. I haven’t done this to the back but I have done it to the front of my mat when it lost its stickiness. If you spray your mat, be sure to mask the edges so you don’t gum up the wheels of your machine. ( I know PC says this voids your warranty but it hasn’t hurt my machine at all.) Another option is to use sticker paper which holds the paper on and has the added advantage of your cuts being a sticker when you peel them off. Of course you don’t have the grid lines on the back but it you hold it up to the light you can see where they are if you need them for placement. Also, I guess if you wanted you could even draw them on with a permanent marker. Hope you find that this is a useful tip!

[LinN]

Thanks so much, Marie! What a great idea!

[wreed06]

I have used the right side of my mat. I used witch hazel with a cotton ball to clean the mat (don't ask why! it's alcohol-free and it was handy at the time!). I tried these methods:
1. Mask the mat, being careful not to cover the cutting areas on the mat. Then, spray the mat with spray adhesive. Let the mat dry a little before laying the paper down to prevent the cutouts from sticking permanently to the mat. Believe me, if the paper is too wet when you put it on the mat, the cutouts are next to impossible to get off without a ton of UN-DO!
2. Spray the backside of the paper before adhering the paper to the mat. Let the paper dry a bit before putting it on the mat.
3. Use no adhesive and use masking tape to tape the paper to the grid. Be careful not to tape where the cutting areas are.

I love spray adhesive, but it can be messy. You need ventilation if you are using it very much, and you need to protect for over spray. Not a good alternative for going to crops. Taping paper to the mats is probably the best bet. With practice, you'll learn the smallest amount of tape needed to hold the paper down while getting a good cut.

[TracyDAZ]

I use the Xyron Cheetah 2" with repositionable adhesive. It works great, you just run it on where ever you want (don't have to worry about a spray), and you don't have to mask anything. Works like a charm!

[PicturePerfect]

Great idea Tracy DAZ!

[wreed06]

I use the Xyron Cheetah 2" with repositionable adhesive. It works great, you just run it on where ever you want (don't have to worry about a spray), and you don't have to mask anything. Works like a charm!

Oh that's fabulous! I didn't know those things existed. I'll have to pick one up. Thanks for sharing! Gotta love these boards!

[cydnewright]

I tape off my mats and spray them with Krylon Easy Tack Repositionable spray. I only have to do it once and they are better than new and last as long or longer than the original mat. It has not gummed up my wheels - I have had more of the original mat adhesive peel off than this stuff.

And my opinion on the whole warranty issue is, how is anyone gonna know I sprayed my mats unless I tell them?
(Same thing goes for SCAL - it doesn't change the cricut at all, so who's gonna know I have it?)

[AlisonCoons]

I use the Xyron Cheetah 2" with repositionable adhesive. It works great, you just run it on where ever you want (don't have to worry about a spray), and you don't have to mask anything. Works like a charm!

THAT'S WHAT I DO TOO!!! It works like a charm!!! It's actually the only thing I use that goofy Cheetah runner for!

[wreed06]

And my opinion on the whole warranty issue is, how is anyone gonna know I sprayed my mats unless I tell them?

Provo might know IF you were to get warranty work on it AND they found any adhesive on the rollers. Even though you tape it, glue residue could still get on internal parts. Personally, I don't think it a big deal, but IF someone wanted to press the issue, they might be able to disallow a repair because they found a trace of foreign glue.
But, will that stop me... I'll never tell...

[amyfrion]

You can also use Goo Gone and scrape off the layer of sticky and then respray with DURO brand spray adhesive. The Goo Gone gets the bulk of the sticky off so it is like a new mat!
Glad someone thinks like I do!

Amy